Adorable picture of the owl chicks at Kirleatham

It may still be early, but we have the first babies of 2021.

We have welcomed some long-eared owl chicks – offspring to our adult pair, Larch and Laurel – and they are about 12 and eight days old. They have a third younger chick who hatched a couple of days ago and baby number four is busy hatching as we write.

Long-eared owl Dad Larch

Owls lay one egg every other day which results in a big size difference from oldest to youngest chick and if prey becomes scarce, the smaller ones don’t always make it.

In a year of poor food supply, it is not uncommon for the older siblings to eat the younger ones, so living with us and not having to hunt makes things a tad easier, but we are still rather pleased as Larch and Laurel have never hatched more than a single chick in previous years.

They are not quite the first babies of 2021 though, our fancy looking Frill Back Pigeons beat them to it by hatching a chick a few days earlier.

The Ural owls are due any day now and as well as these, our caracaras, black vultures and burrowing owls are all getting ready to lay eggs, not to mention we have a rather plump porcupine.

A fancy frillback Pigeon

Many of our more tropical species, such as kookaburra from Australia, glossy starlings from Africa and junglefowl from Sri Lanka don’t start breeding until the weather is warmer, in about May or June time, so there are still lots more babies to come.

Fingers’ crossed that we will have lots of babies for visitors to meet when we reopen in a few weeks time.

To support the work of the owl centre, go to www.kirkleathamowlcentre.co.uk.